Frequently Asked Questions

See the admissions requirements. 

To summarize, you need to submit the Apply Texas application as well as official copies of transcripts from each of the universities you attended to the graduate college.  In addition, you must also submit your GRE score, 3 letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a writing sample, and a resume. 

The graduate college will average your GPA based on the last 60 credit hours of coursework completed towards your undergraduate degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree.

Yes, you must include three letters of recommendation from educational and professional sources with your application.

No. The GRE scores must be on file with all required documentation before the graduate college will tabulate the GPA and post the information for review by the program.

You may reapply but are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with the program director to learn what you can do to strengthen your GPA and chances of admission.

You may also submit a revised resume, personal statement and letters of recommendation.

All applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in Political Science from a regionally accredited university. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 undergraduate semester hours of letter-grade work earned at a four-year college or university before receipt of their Bachelor's (plus any previously completed graduate or professional work) is required.

No. All students who meet the admission requirements are admitted to the program.

Yes.  Student applications are reviewed year round. 

Yes. All files of students who apply to the program are reviewed by the director of the program. If a student does not meet the GPA requirement for admission their file will be reviewed individually by the program director for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis.

Conditional admission is when a student who has applied to the program does not meet the specified program requirements needed for admission.

A student with a GPA just below the 3.0 but above the graduate college minimum last 60 hours GPA requirement of 2.75 may be eligible for admission under conditions specified by the program director.

The office of the Graduate College will notify applicants officially by mail regarding admission.  Since applications are for specific semesters, you should notify the Office of the Graduate College as soon as possible if you will not be enrolling in the semester for which you were accepted.

Registration in the Graduate College beyond the first semester depends on satisfactory progress in fulfilling any admission conditions that may have been imposed and maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

Students are encouraged to meet with the program director in the first semester upon entering the program.

Student should meet with the director routinely while in the program to make sure they are on track with their degree.

Student should also meet with the program director anytime they have a concern or want to make a change to their degree plan.

A maximum of 6 semester hours of credit earned at another institution may be accepted as transfer credit and applied toward the master’s degree.  Those hours must fulfill certain requirements; speak with the program director for more information.

Up to 6 hours of graduate-level courses taken as a post-graduate certification, non-degree, or certificate student with a grade of “B” or better may be permitted for degree credit, after a student is granted regular degree-seeking admission. Such credit requires approval of the Dean of the Graduate College.

Students without an undergraduate degree in political science or undergraduate minor in political science, or a minimum of nine (9) advanced hours in political science or related field, are only eligible for conditional admission and will be required to take leveling courses prior to enrolling in graduate political science courses.  

Once a student has been accepted, the MA program director reviews the student’s transcripts and determines how many leveling courses are needed. Students who are lacking in advanced political science undergraduate or post graduate hours may be required to complete up to 15 hours of undergraduate hours before beginning to take graduate political science courses. 

The requirements will be listed on the student’s degree outline, which is processed and distributed by the Graduate College after the MA program director approves the requirements for the major. Political science background courses must be chosen in consultation with the MA program director. A grade of “B” or better must be earned on all background courses. 

Leveling work is not computed for the graduation GPA requirement, nor is graduate-degree credit granted for background work for the degree to be earned.

Yes. All documentation, including the GRE must be in the graduate college 3 weeks prior to the start of the semester to which you are applying.

The program prefers a minimum total score of 300.

Yes. Scores should be submitted to The Graduate College.

A petition must be submitted to The Graduate College by the program director in order to accept LSAT or GMAT scores.

First semester: Once you are notified of admission by the Graduate College, you must respond on whether or not you intend to enroll. Once that is done, you may begin to register for courses just as you will in later semesters.

Texas State utilizes an online registration system referred to as Texas State Self-Service. Texas State Self-Service can be accessed through CatsWeb. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to register online and information on how to search for courses. For more information, students should access the Office of the University Registrar’s website. Registration in The Graduate College beyond the first term depends on satisfactory progress in fulfilling any admission conditions that may have been imposed and making satisfactory academic progress.

At the graduate level, the full-time course load during a long semester is 9 or more semester hours; 3/4 time is 7 hours, 1/2 time is 5 hours and the maximum load is 15 hours. The full-time course load during each summer session is 5 graduate-level hours; the maximum load is 6 hours. If you wish to exceed the maximum allowed hours, you must get approval from, first, the program director and, second, the Dean of The Graduate College.

With permission from the MA program director, you may take up to two directed reading courses (POSI 5398: Directed Reading and Research). These courses must be taken with two different professors and with different emphases. You may only enroll in directed readings with professors with whom you have already taken an M.A. course. Directed readings courses are to provide you with advanced studies beyond the scope of in-class coursework.

POSI 5398: Directed Reading and Research may not be taken in the first semester of coursework. A directed reading course is required for thesis students.

You may enroll in an internship course (PS 5389: Internship in Government) if you are interning or are employed by a unit of federal, state, regional, or local government. You are solely responsible for securing a position. Neither the department nor the MA program director places students in internship positions. The MA program director will make available information about any positions that are brought to the department’s attention. Students who work 20 hours per week for at least 14 weeks may receive 3 credit hours.

The MA program director will provide you with a syllabus listing the requirements for the internship. The MA program director will be the instructor of record for all students enrolled in the internship course. Visit our internship resources and MA program Canvas site for help with finding an internship.

It depends on what you want to get out of the program. View our Degree Options for an overview of the two tracks. Do you want to invest time into a long-form research project? Why or why not? What do you want to do after completing the MA program? If you are unsure, schedule an appointment the program director.

You can find all our courses and their descriptions in the University Course Catalog.

Thesis track: 33 hours (11 courses) in addition to the thesis.

Non-thesis track: 36 hours (12 courses) in addition to a comprehensive exam.

No.

Yes. The program must be completed within six years from the date of your initial enrollment in graduate courses used toward the degree. This time limit applies to credit hours earned at Texas State as well as credit transferred to Texas State from other accredited institutions. Requests for an extension must be submitted to the MA program director, who in turn submits a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate College.